The manager of Pembroke’s Mission Thrift Store location says they’ve been inundated with clothing lately.
According to Cecille Groulx, it began a few months ago after a conversation with Diabetes Canada, which had previously picked up unsold clothing items once a week.
According to Groulx, this means the thrift store now has far more clothing than it’s able to sell, meaning they’ve begun throwing some of it away and impose a limit on donations.
The store is now filling its dumpster with three times as much garbage as before, Groulx says.
Regarding the cause, Groulx says too much clothing is being produced worldwide, especially by fast fashion companies like Shein.
The abundance of clothes has had further knock-on effects on the business: Groulx explained that it’s taking up so much space in storage that she’s had to stop accepting Christmas and winter items.
Groulx says other Mission Thrift Store locations, as well as other locations in the Ottawa Valley, have been experiencing similar issues.
For people who are looking to get rid of their old clothes, Groulx encourages you to sort and clean your donations to help save their volunteers time.
Meanwhile, Groulx also urges residents interested in putting together some new outfits to come shop at her store to help alleviate the issue.
Groulx also specified that the two-bag limit is only for adult clothing donations: all kids clothes are still being accepted.
(Written by Steve Berard)
